Adventures of Buffalo Bill from Boyhood to Manhood

CHAPTER VIII.
KILLING HIS FIRST INDIAN.

WHEN the train and beef-herd, with which Billy Cody had gone, arrived
in the vicinity of old Fort Kearney their first serious adventure
occurred, and for a while the boy thought of his mother's prediction,
that he "would be killed or captured by Indians."

Not expecting an attack from red-skins in that vicinity, the
party had camped for dinner, and most of them were enjoying a siesta
under the wagons, Billy being among the latter number, while but three
men were on duty as herders.

But suddenly they were aroused by shots, wild yells and rapid
hoof-falls, and down upon them dashed a band of mounted warriors, while
others had killed the three guards and the cattle were stampeding in
every direction. But the train hands quickly sprung to their feet,
rallied promptly for the fight, and met the advancing red-skins with a
volley from their Mississippi yagers, which were loaded with bell and
buck-shot, and checked their advance.

Knowing that they could not hold out there the train-master
called out:

"Boys, make a run for the river, and the banks will protect us."

All started, when Billy called out:

"Don't let us leave these wounded boys."

They turned at his word, to find that two of their number had
been wounded, one seriously in the side and the other in the leg.

Raising them in their arms they started at a run for the bank,
ere the Indians had rallied from the fire that met them, and reached it
in safety, though the man who had been shot in the side was dead ere
they got there.

A short consultation was then held and it was decided to make
their way back to Fort Kearney, by wading in the river and keeping the
bank as a breast work.

A raft of poles was constructed for the wounded man, and the
party started down the stream, protected by the bank, and keeping the
Indians at bay with their guns, for they followed them up closely.

As night came on, utterly worn out with wading and walking, Billy
dropped behind the others; but trudged manfully along until he was
suddenly startled by a dark object coming down over the bank.

It was moonlight, and he saw the plumed head and buckskin-clad
form of an Indian, who, in peering over the bank to reconnoiter had lost
his balance, or the earth had given way, and sent him down into the
stream.

He caught sight of Billy as he was sliding down, and gave a wild
war-whoop, which was answered by a shot from the boy's rifle, for
though taken wholly by surprise he did not lose his presence of mind.

Hearing the war-whoop and the shot, and at the same time missing
Billy, the men came running back and found him dragging the redskin
along in the stream after him.

"It's my injun, boys," he cried exultantly.

"It are fer a fact, an' I'll show yer how ter take his scalp,"
replied Frank McCarthy the train-master, and he skillfully cut off the
scalplock to Billy, adding;